Still the daffodils flower, the lambs are born and the seasons go on

What strange and unnerving times we find ourselves. The mounting death toll is frightening and I worry for our friends and family, no matter their age or health. So far we are all well and coping with being isolated from our loved ones but I cant wait to see my boys in person again. I am feeling very lucky I can still go to the nursery every day and work away, keeping on top of watering, potting and all the tasks that need time at this busy time of year in the garden. The weather has been dry for the last week or so and after what feels like forever the ground is finally drying out and I don't feel like I am plodging about in mud all the time.

Usually on our day off David and I go out for the day and visit somewhere, have some lunch and enjoy some time together away from both businesses. But for now we are enjoying relaxing days at home and lovely walks from the cottage. We are blessed where we live. I've ticked tasks off my list that have been there since we moved in December and playing around with photography a bit again. When you can't go for a day out on your day off - playing around with violets (viola oderata) and some of my antique and vintage things.

Violas and antiques

Vintage cottage window scenes

The gardens in the nursery are starting to come to life with lots of new shoots poking through the soil and early flowers appearing. Primula wanda and denticulata, Anemone nemorosa varieties, hellebores, early daffodils, Pulmonarias, cherry trees and viburnums to name a few.

Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

Prunus 'Kursar'

Plants aren't the only thing coming to life. We were excited to see frogspawn in the wildlife pond in the exact week the pond was a year old.

There was also some wildlife spotted in the new prairie garden while David was digging down there, ever had the feeling you are being watched? Because David can't do his own work while we are on lockdown he has been coming into the nursery and working away on our new project, a new garden. So excited to see it coming together, once finished that will be the middle terrace of the nursery complete.

As well as doing lots of propagation, tidying and sorting out in the poytunnel I have been working my way thorugh the stock beds, clearing, tidying, weeding, feeding, top dressing and re-potting or potting up Its a big job that takes several months but so worth it. It means all the plants get attention, fed, top dressed, re-potted which results in very healthy plants. We also extended the end of the last bed by 10 feet, using up a bit of dead space and I need the room for all those lovely new plants I keep introducing to the nursery stock list. Having started at Z I am now up to P. Still a way to go.

Bracken the nursery dog keeping
an eye on things

Now more than ever its vital to get out into our gardens, our own green space and enjoy what we've created so far and maybe start or plan some new projects too. Making plans, drawing up shopping lists for when we can out to the nursery or garden centre again, reading garden books, magazines and researching online is a great way to focus on looking forward.

There are lots of jobs you can be doing in the garden too while on lockdown. All those tasks you . like me never get round too because there's always a more pressing or interesting job to do. It's too early to be sowing seeds outdoors up here but you can get them started indoors on a windowsill, in a greenhouse or somewhere warm and light.

Outdoors now is the time to get climbers sorted out and tied in. It will soon be too late as they are starting to grow, so definatly a job for this weekend. Lift and divide perennials, this re-invigerates them, encouraging better flowering, you can bulk up your plantings or gift the extra bits to friends, family and neighbours once we are allowed back out again.

Agapanthus 'Glenavon' in the greenhouse, a bit confused about when it should be flowering!

Errington Cheese dinner, Saturday night treat. We had ordered their cheddar, Tinto, Cora Linn and Bonnington Linn, all were excellent. We also ordered some venison products from Tweed Valley Venison, looking forward to making a casserole and trying the sausage and burgers. Supporting fellow small local businesses.

Lovely cheeses

Useful plants in the garden - Kale 

We have a lot of kale still growing from last year. The two varieties are Red kale and Uncle bert’s Purple which has a lovely green and purple leaf. This is an easy and quick veg dish to go with most things. We had it with a chicken dish and some new potatoes. Saute an sliced Useful plants froonion and some red pepper in olive oil. Remove the tougher leaf stalks from the kale and steam for a few minutes to soften. Once the onion and pepper is nearly cooked add the kale for a couple of minute. Season with pepper and eat! You could add bacon or any other veg you have lying about needing used up. Add some egg and make an omelette. The only limitation is your imagination.

We are so lucky to have this walk literally on our doorstep. Just two fields up the hill behind the cottage is the Southern Upland Way and we can walk for miles in either direction in splendid isolation. The weather was warm, with no wind and utter beautiful silence except for the birds. I walked on to Blake Muir while David stopped at the bottom to wait on Bracken and I. Views of Glen House and the cairns on Minch Moor. So good to get up in the hills again, it's been too long and away from the chaos, breath the fresh air and stretch my legs. Bracken had a great walk too with much skipping over heather and plenty sniffs to sniff.